Day-12: Monday, September 14, 2015
Starting Location: Sandman Signature Hotel, Kamloops, BC
Interim Location: En-route aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Ending Location: Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver, BC
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NOTE: If you're interested in experiencing the Rocky Mountaineer (LINK), take a look at this video. It's obviously a commercial with models and cheesy situations but the scenery and train images are real and just what you'd experience with the Gold Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper, AB to Vancouver, BC. There are any number of YouTube postings both vacation videos and commercial ads that in their own way try to showcase the Rocky Mountaineer service and experience.
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Our second train day began with "All Aboard" about 8 AM. We'd had a good night in the Sandman and another easy 2-minute drive to the train this morning.
We had been told to expect a bigger train and it sure was as our train from Kamloops had been coupled with a larger train that had arrived from Banff. In total there were 25 or so cars on our train including the engines and generators, probably about 20 passenger cars. Today we would be in our same car, J-03 and same seats, #1-8 but the car would be located about 2/3s of the way back, no longer at the end. This was not really a problem as our dome car was higher than the cars behind but it did make the outdoor viewing deck somewhat useless.
We were soon on our way and again traveling through scenic countryside. Whereas yesterday our group had first seatings for meals today we switched and had second seatings so for us, drinks and pastries were served while we awaited our breakfast call.
I'll just summarize that again the meals and service were top-rate. Without a doubt it's the best train experience I've ever had and likely the same for all of us.
Today we passed through lower mountains and hills again passing rivers and valleys. We would see many more animals along the way today, including eagles, mountain sheep and finally the elusive black bear.
We passed over a series of bridges and trestles some crossing the river at Hell's Gate, BC. The track traversed narrow ledges and passed through tunnels and under snow and avalanche bridges, so many structures that were fascinating visually but for me and others engineering wonders as well.
By mid afternoon it was clear we were nearing a metropolis (Vancouver); the terrain, the homes, the businesses along the route gradually morphed from rural to urban.
We passed into Vancouver and arrived at the Rocky Mountaineer station about 4:30 PM. We said our goodbyes to the crew and thanked them for a great adventure. They were as gracious as ever and again seemed to really be appreciative of their customers.
Upon disembarking we found our driver for the ride into Vancouver to our hotel. Again the bags had gone on before us and would meet us at the hotel.
Check-in at the Fairmont Pacific Rim was simple and soon we were off to our rooms.
Let it be said that amongst the eight of us, nobody figured out how to open the room drapes and shears on the first go. These rooms were great, they provided views of the water and downtown and were outfitted with about every convenience one might want. Some were even stunned that the bath mirrors had imbedded TV screens, who knew?
Oh, yes, the shades, of course there were no pull-rods or cords, these shades were electrified and operated either from a wall switch or the personal iPad provided in each room, of course! Being the progressive folks that we are it just just didn't make sense that we would have to punch buttons for lights and curtains, where's the voice activated technology when you need it.
Upon our return to the hotel before turning in for the night, I hung out in the lobby bar to listen to a great guitarist. He could play almost anything from Jimmy Buffet to classical to hard rock.
**********
NOTE: If you're interested in experiencing the Rocky Mountaineer (LINK), take a look at this video. It's obviously a commercial with models and cheesy situations but the scenery and train images are real and just what you'd experience with the Gold Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper, AB to Vancouver, BC. There are any number of YouTube postings both vacation videos and commercial ads that in their own way try to showcase the Rocky Mountaineer service and experience.
**********
Our second train day began with "All Aboard" about 8 AM. We'd had a good night in the Sandman and another easy 2-minute drive to the train this morning.
 |
| "Good Morning Passengers in J-03" |
We had been told to expect a bigger train and it sure was as our train from Kamloops had been coupled with a larger train that had arrived from Banff. In total there were 25 or so cars on our train including the engines and generators, probably about 20 passenger cars. Today we would be in our same car, J-03 and same seats, #1-8 but the car would be located about 2/3s of the way back, no longer at the end. This was not really a problem as our dome car was higher than the cars behind but it did make the outdoor viewing deck somewhat useless.
We were soon on our way and again traveling through scenic countryside. Whereas yesterday our group had first seatings for meals today we switched and had second seatings so for us, drinks and pastries were served while we awaited our breakfast call.
I'll just summarize that again the meals and service were top-rate. Without a doubt it's the best train experience I've ever had and likely the same for all of us.
Today we passed through lower mountains and hills again passing rivers and valleys. We would see many more animals along the way today, including eagles, mountain sheep and finally the elusive black bear.
We passed over a series of bridges and trestles some crossing the river at Hell's Gate, BC. The track traversed narrow ledges and passed through tunnels and under snow and avalanche bridges, so many structures that were fascinating visually but for me and others engineering wonders as well.
By mid afternoon it was clear we were nearing a metropolis (Vancouver); the terrain, the homes, the businesses along the route gradually morphed from rural to urban.
We passed into Vancouver and arrived at the Rocky Mountaineer station about 4:30 PM. We said our goodbyes to the crew and thanked them for a great adventure. They were as gracious as ever and again seemed to really be appreciative of their customers.
Upon disembarking we found our driver for the ride into Vancouver to our hotel. Again the bags had gone on before us and would meet us at the hotel.
Check-in at the Fairmont Pacific Rim was simple and soon we were off to our rooms.
Let it be said that amongst the eight of us, nobody figured out how to open the room drapes and shears on the first go. These rooms were great, they provided views of the water and downtown and were outfitted with about every convenience one might want. Some were even stunned that the bath mirrors had imbedded TV screens, who knew?
Oh, yes, the shades, of course there were no pull-rods or cords, these shades were electrified and operated either from a wall switch or the personal iPad provided in each room, of course! Being the progressive folks that we are it just just didn't make sense that we would have to punch buttons for lights and curtains, where's the voice activated technology when you need it.
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| The Thirsty Almond Tries the Sampler |
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| 2010 Olympic Torch |
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